How to fix high memory usage in Windows

High memory usage in Windows can slow down your computer, cause programs to crash, and prevent new applications from opening. Identifying and addressing the root cause can significantly improve your system’s performance. The most common reasons include unnecessary background apps, startup programs, memory leaks, and outdated drivers. Here are the best methods to fix high memory usage in Windows.

Method 1: Identify and Close Unnecessary Programs and Processes

Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Once Task Manager opens, click on the “Processes” tab to view running applications and services.

Sort the processes by memory usage by clicking on the “Memory” column header. This will help you quickly identify applications consuming the most RAM.

Select any unnecessary processes or applications, then click “End Task” to stop them. Be cautious not to end critical system processes. If you’re unsure, research the process online before closing it.

Method 2: Disable Startup Programs

Startup programs automatically launch when Windows boots, consuming memory unnecessarily. Disabling them can significantly reduce memory usage.

Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc and click on the “Startup” tab.

Review the list of startup applications. Right-click on any unnecessary or rarely-used program and choose “Disable”. This prevents the application from launching automatically at startup.

Restart your computer to apply the changes and observe improvements in memory usage.

Method 3: Adjust Windows Performance Settings

Windows includes visual effects and animations that consume extra memory. Adjusting these settings to prioritize performance can reduce RAM usage.

Right-click on “This PC” or “My Computer” and select “Properties”. Then click on “Advanced system settings”.

In the System Properties window, navigate to the “Advanced” tab and click “Settings” under the Performance section.

Select the “Adjust for best performance” option. This disables unnecessary visual effects and animations, freeing up RAM for other tasks. Click “Apply” and then “OK”.

Method 4: Clean Temporary Files and Optimize Disk Space

Accumulated temporary files and cluttered disk space can lead to increased memory usage. Regularly cleaning these files helps Windows manage memory efficiently.

Press Windows key + R, type %temp%, and press Enter.

Select all files (use Ctrl + A) in the new window that opens and delete them. These are temporary files that Windows no longer needs.

Next, open File Explorer, right-click your main drive (usually C:), select “Properties”, and click “Disk Cleanup”.

Select the types of files you wish to remove, such as temporary files, recycle bin contents, and downloaded program files, then click “OK”.

For deeper cleaning, open Command Prompt as administrator and type cleanmgr. Press Enter, select the drive to clean, and follow the prompts to remove unnecessary system files.

Method 5: Update Windows and Device Drivers

Outdated Windows installations and device drivers can cause memory leaks, leading to excessive RAM usage. Regular updates help resolve these issues.

Open “Settings” by pressing Windows key + I, then click on “Update & Security”. Click “Check for updates” and install any available updates.

Update device drivers by right-clicking the “Start” button, selecting “Device Manager”, and then expanding each category. Right-click on each device and select “Update driver”. Windows will search for and install the latest drivers.

Method 6: Diagnose and Fix Memory Leaks

If high memory usage persists despite these steps, a memory leak caused by a software or driver might be the culprit. You can use the PoolMon tool to identify the problematic driver.

Download and install the Windows Driver Kit (WDK) from Microsoft’s official website. After installation, open PoolMon from the installed directory (usually located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Tools\x64).

Run PoolMon, sort by nonpaged memory usage (press P then B), and identify the driver tag consuming the most memory.

Open Command Prompt, navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers, and run findstr /s [DriverTag] *.* replacing “[DriverTag]” with the problematic tag from PoolMon. This will identify the driver responsible for the memory leak.

Update or uninstall the identified driver to resolve the memory leak.

By following these methods, you can significantly reduce memory usage and optimize your Windows PC’s performance. Regular maintenance helps keep memory usage in check, ensuring smoother operation over time.